fabric

noun

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fab·ric | \ ˈfa-brik

Definition of fabric

1a : structure, building

b : underlying structure : framework the fabric of society

2 : an act of constructing : erection specifically : the construction and maintenance of a church building

3a : structural plan or style of construction

b : texture, quality —used chiefly of textiles

c : the arrangement of physical components (as of soil) in relation to each other

4a : cloth sense 1a

b : a material that resembles cloth

5 : the appearance or pattern produced by the shapes and arrangement of the crystal grains in a rock

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about fabric

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Examples of fabric in a Sentence

The curtains are made of expensive fabric. scarves made of woven fabrics the fabric of the community

Recent Examples on the Web The ticks grab onto the fabric, where their dark bodies show up clearly. — Jen Rose Smith, CNN, "Corona with Lyme? Warmer weather means it's time to be tick aware," 25 May 2020 Lou & Grey: For the softest of soft fabrics, look no further than Lou & Grey. — Talia Abbas, Glamour, "The 37 Best Memorial Day Clothing Sales to Shop This Weekend," 22 May 2020 Photos from the pandemic of 1918-1920 show people wearing a similar design to the ones that such brands as Old Navy, J. Crew, and Citizens of Humanity are selling now: Rounded or pleated fabric, with ties behind the head or loops behind the ears. — Washington Post, "Masks are changing the way we look at each other, and ourselves," 19 May 2020 As civilizations developed, so did fabric, and dyes. — Kevin Fisher-paulson, SFChronicle.com, "Fisher-Paulson: When it comes to writing, and life, purple is the right color," 19 May 2020 The fabric, buttons, zippers, and leather patches on the jeans in your closet most likely originated in China, even if the tag indicates the jeans themselves were made—that is, cut and sewn—in a country such as Vietnam or Turkey. — Marc Bain, Quartz, "Jean production shows how Covid-19 has devastated the fashion industry," 18 May 2020 Sheets recommends a double-walled tent, with two layers of fabric, which will be more expensive, but also more adaptable to a variety of weather conditions. — Susan Glaser, cleveland, "A beginner’s guide to camping: Where to go, what to bring on your first outdoor overnight adventure," 17 May 2020 Made of extremely lightweight fabric, the shorts are loose-fitting and fairly short, sitting just about four inches above the knee. — Dan Q. Dao, Condé Nast Traveler, "11 Best Men’s Swim Trunks to Wear This Summer," 12 May 2020 The pattern cutter responsible for Meghan Markle’s Stella McCartney wedding gown in 2017, who is based in Britain, cut the fabric for one of Nafsika Skourti’s bestsellers: the revenge dress, a blood-red number with a thigh-high slit. — Sheila Marikar, 1843, "Arab millennials have a new favourite fashion brand," 7 May 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fabric.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for fabric

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French fabrique "act of construction, something created or constructed, the created world, structure, construction and maintenance of a church," borrowed from Medieval Latin fabrica, going back to Latin, "process of making something, craft, art, workshop," noun derivative from *fabricus "of a craftsman," from fabr-, faber "craftsman, smith" (perhaps going back to dialectal Indo-European *dhabh-r- —perhaps of non-Indo-European origin— whence also Armenian darbin "smith," from *dhabh-r-sneh₂) + -icus -ic entry 1

Note: The Latin derivative fabrica may have been shortened from fabrica ars, perhaps literally "smith's craft, smith's place of work." The base *dhabh-r- has been compared with Gothic gadaban "to happen, be suitable" and a host of related words (see daft), though the semantic link is tenuous.

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